A popular topic bubbled up during the past week, as college football’s top 2012 teams—with one notable exception—homed in on securing BCS-game opportunities.

People wondered: Where would Ohio State be in the BCS standings if it were eligible for the postseason? What would have to happen for the Buckeyes to reach the national title game?

They might not ask that as often in the week to come after Saturday’s decidedly unimpressive 21-14 overtime victory for the Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (7-4, 4-3).

Yes, 11-0 is a big deal. Yes, Ohio State’s first divisional crown since the Big Ten realigned is a big deal. No, it doesn’t take a BCS game—in Pasadena or Miami—to validate the quality work that’s been done within Urban Meyer’s program over the past several months.

But can anyone who watched the Buckeyes be outgained 359 yards to 236—by a subpar Badgers team that was led by a third-string quarterback—possibly think Braxton Miller and his teammates are good enough to beat the unbeaten teams ranked above them?

OSU is good, mind you. Real good. But not quite good enough to warrant all these “what ifs.”

“You can’t say it’s been perfect,” Meyer said during the week of his team’s performance this season.

After the game, Meyer was more effusive: “Our guys played their butts off,” he said on the field.

“That was a great game.”

But it wasn’t a great game; it was an ugly game. It was Miller’s worst game of 2012, no question about it—a combined 142 yards and zero touchdowns—and though Wisconsin’s defense played very well, it was obvious Miller was off-kilter on nearly every dropback.

The Buckeyes’ defense, despite knowing UW quarterback Curt Phillips couldn’t hurt them, nevertheless allowed Montee Ball to rush for 191 yards and an FBS career record-tying 78th touchdown. The D made a huge fourth-down stop on Ball in the fourth-quarter, forcing a fumble inside the 1-yard line, but this was no better than an average outing overall for co-coordinator Luke Fickell’s defense.

Wisconsin easily could’ve won this game and quieted much of the talk about whether or not it deserves to represent the Leaders Division in the Big Ten title game. There was that rare miscue by ball, only the second lost fumble of his great career. There was a missed field goal from straight-on in the fourth quarter by Kyle French. There was a dropped sure touchdown catch by fullback Derek Watt.

Ohio State—undefeated still, but far from perfect—was lucky to get out of Madison with win No. 11. Not that they’ll be apologizing for anything back in Columbus.